Putahi Whakatetonga South Frame

Putahi Whakatetonga South Frame is a transformative urban regeneration project situated between Tuam and St Asaph Streets in Christchurch. This 20,000sqm network of laneways, public spaces, and a verdant Greenway, revitalises the industrial fabric along the southern edge of the city centre. These seven city blocks, largely demolished and vacated due to the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, have been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use precinct. The project delivers an authentic, contemporary, and distinctly urban precinct that combines innovative ecologies, landscape architecture and urbanism to reveal its past, provide a catalyst for its future, and seed a new creative mixed-use community. The impact of this project highlights the significant role of landscape architecture in shaping cities. As a post-quake anchor project, the South Frame has contributed to consolidating a more compact city centre core and sparked redevelopment and commercial activity in an area that was largely abandoned, bringing life back to the city centre. Furthermore, it delivers on Christchurch City Council's visionary 'Share an Idea' initiative, and authentically incorporates mana whenua values and narratives into the city’s fabric. The South Frame showcases the power of thoughtful design and collaboration to transform spaces and foster community growth in cities.